Working steps of radiation therapy system and irradiation parameter verification device

Abstract

The present invention provides a radiation therapy system and working steps of an irradiation parameter verification device. The radiation therapy system comprises a radiation generating device, an irradiation room for arranging a patient, a loading device for transporting and carrying the patient, a collimator arranged in the irradiation room, an irradiation parameter verification device and a collimator model for determining whether the patient's position is suitable for radiation irradiation therapy, wherein the collimator comprises a collimator outlet, the collimator model comprises a collimator model outlet, the collimator model outlet is the same as the collimator outlet in shape and size, and the size of the collimator model in a direction perpendicular to the collimator model outlet is smaller than the size of the collimator in a direction perpendicular to the collimator outlet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a radioactive ray irradiation system, in particular to a radiation therapy system and working steps of an irradiation parameter verification device. Background Art

[0002] With the development of atomic science, radiation therapy such as cobalt sixty, linear accelerator, electron beam, etc. has become one of the main means of cancer treatment. During radiotherapy, it is necessary to use a beam to continuously irradiate the patient for a certain period of time. Before irradiation, the patient needs to be positioned in a suitable position to ensure that the radiation can kill the tumor cells in the patient's body to the maximum extent and reduce the damage of the radiation to the surrounding normal tissues as much as possible. The patient's position is the position parameter of the patient's tumor center compared to the center of the collimator, that is, the irradiation parameter. Each set of irradiation parameters includes an irradiation point and an irradiation angle. After knowing the irradiation parameters, verify whether the dose distribution corresponding to the set of irradiation parameters meets the requirements.

[0003] At present, an image acquisition device such as a CT scanner is used to acquire the image data of the collimator and the patient, and then the corresponding irradiation parameters when the patient is in the position are calculated. However, due to the size limitation of the collimator and the image acquisition device, a collimator that is too large cannot be transported to the image acquisition device together with the patient for angiography. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a radiation therapy system and a working procedure of an irradiation parameter verification device that have no additional requirements on the size of the working range of an image acquisition device.

[0005] The radiation therapy system includes a radiation generating device for generating therapeutic radiation, an irradiation room for accommodating a patient to be irradiated with radiation, a carrying device for transporting and carrying the patient, a collimator arranged in the irradiation room, an irradiation parameter verification device and a collimator model, wherein the collimator includes a collimator outlet for emitting radiation, the collimator model includes a collimator model outlet, the collimator model outlet has the same shape and size as the collimator outlet, the irradiation parameter verification device includes an image acquisition unit for acquiring image data of the patient and the collimator model, and the size of the collimator model in a direction perpendicular to the collimator model outlet is smaller than the size of the collimator in a direction perpendicular to the collimator outlet.

[0006] Furthermore, the irradiation parameter verification device also includes a storage unit that stores the image data of the patient and the collimator obtained from the image acquisition unit, a conversion unit that converts the image data of the patient and the collimator in the storage unit into irradiation parameters, a calculation unit that calculates the dose distribution of radiation in the patient's body at the time of corresponding positioning in combination with the irradiation parameters in the conversion unit, and a comparison unit that compares the dose distribution calculated by the calculation unit with a preset dose distribution.

[0007] Preferably, the image acquisition unit includes but is not limited to a CT scanner.

[0008] Furthermore, a size of the collimator model in a direction perpendicular to an outlet of the collimator model is 1-10 mm.

[0009] Furthermore, one of the collimator models has a plurality of collimator model outlets of different sizes, and the shape and size of each of the collimator model outlets are the same as the shape and size of the collimator outlet of one of the collimators.

[0010] Preferably, a plurality of cavities of different sizes are machined inside the collimator model, and each cavity of different sizes represents an outlet of the collimator model.

[0011] Preferably, a plurality of grooves with different sizes are formed at intervals on the end surface where the collimator model outlet is located, and each groove with a different size represents a collimator model outlet.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes an adjusting mechanism for adjusting and fixing the relative position between the patient and the collimator model.

[0013] The radiation therapy system is a neutron capture therapy system.

[0014] Preferably, the neutron capture therapy system is a boron neutron capture therapy system.

[0015] Furthermore, the boron neutron capture therapy system is an accelerator boron neutron capture therapy system.

[0016] The working steps of the irradiation parameter verification device include the following steps: S1: moving the loading device to the working area of ​​the image acquisition unit to obtain image data of the patient and the collimator model; S2: the storage unit stores the image data of the patient and the collimator model obtained from the image acquisition unit; S3: the conversion unit converts the image data of the patient and the collimator model in the storage unit into the irradiation parameters; S4: the calculation unit combines other information, such as beam intensity, tumor size, etc., with the irradiation parameters to calculate the radiation dose distribution in the patient's body when the patient is in the position corresponding to the irradiation parameters; S5: the comparison unit compares the dose distribution calculated by the calculation unit with the preset dose distribution; S6: adjusting the relative position of the collimator model and the patient, and repeating S1-S5 until the difference between the dose distribution obtained from the calculation unit and the preset dose distribution is within an acceptable range.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution recorded in this embodiment has the following beneficial effects: a collimator model whose outlet is the same shape and size as the collimator outlet but shorter than the collimator is used to transport the patient to the interior of the image acquisition unit for image acquisition and thereby determine whether the patient's position relative to the collimator model outlet is suitable for radiation irradiation therapy, without the need to place a complete collimator into the image acquisition unit, thereby reducing the requirements for the size of the working range of the image acquisition unit and reducing the manufacturing cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 is a top view of the radiation therapy system of the present invention without the irradiation parameter verification device;

[0019] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a loading device of the radiation therapy system of the present invention loading a patient, an adjustment mechanism and a collimator model;

[0020] Figure 3 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a collimator model in the first embodiment of the radiation therapy system of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 A front view of a collimator model in Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3 of a radiation therapy system of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a collimator model in a second embodiment of a radiation therapy system of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of a collimator model in a third embodiment of a radiation therapy system of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of an irradiation parameter verification device of a radiation therapy system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The embodiments of the present invention are further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can implement the invention with reference to the description.

[0026] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The words "connect", "install", "fix" and the like described below, unless otherwise specified, may refer to direct connection, installation, fixation, or indirect connection, installation, fixation, i.e., third-party material intervention is allowed; may refer to detachable connection, installation, fixation, or non-detachable connection, installation, fixation.

[0027] Radiation therapy is a common method of treating cancer. Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the radiation therapy system for performing radiation therapy includes a radiation generating device 1 for generating therapeutic radiation, an irradiation room 2 for accommodating a patient S to be irradiated with radiation, a management room 3 for implementing irradiation control, a carrying device 4 for transporting and carrying the patient S, and an irradiation parameter verification device 5 for determining whether the position of the patient S is appropriate.

[0028] Reference Figure 1 As shown, the radiation generating device 1 is configured to generate radiation outside the irradiation room 2 and to irradiate the radiation to the patient S placed in the irradiation room 2. The irradiation room 2 is provided with a collimator 6, and the collimator 6 includes an entrance 61 for the radiation to enter and a collimator exit 62 for the radiation to exit. The center line X of the collimator exit 62 is aligned with the part of the patient S that needs to be irradiated. The collimator 6 is divided into two parts: a section close to the entrance 61 is defined as a front end 64, and a section close to the collimator exit 62 is defined as a terminal end 65. In the direction parallel to the center line X of the collimator 6, the size of the terminal end 65 of the collimator 6 is 1mm-10mm. The management room 3 is a room for managing and controlling the overall treatment process of radiation irradiation. For example, the management personnel can visually confirm whether the patient S is placed in place from the room of the management room 3. The carrying device 4 is used to carry the patient S to perform rotation, translation and lifting movements.

[0029] Reference Figure 2As shown, the loading device 4 includes a loading member 41 for loading the patient S, a driving member 42 for driving the loading member 41 to rotate and / or move, and a connecting member 43 connected between the loading member 41 and the driving member 42. In the embodiment disclosed in the present application, the loading member 41 is a flat bed board, the connecting member 43 is a mechanical arm, and the driving member 42 is a common power source such as a cylinder for driving the movement of the mechanical arm or a human drive. In other embodiments, the loading member 41 can be set as a loading chair in a chair-like configuration, and the connecting member 43 can be set as a connecting rod mechanism. Of course, it is not limited to the structures listed above.

[0030] Before performing radiation therapy, the management personnel needs to determine whether the patient S is positioned in an appropriate position, specifically, whether the position of the patient S relative to the collimator outlet 62 is suitable for radiation therapy. When radiation therapy is performed in a suitable position, the radiation can kill the tumor cells in the patient S to the maximum extent and reduce the damage of the radiation to the surrounding normal tissues as much as possible. Therefore, before performing radiation therapy, the irradiation parameter verification device 5 is required to verify the position of the patient S to ensure that the patient S is in a suitable irradiated position. The position of the patient S is the position parameter of the tumor center of the patient S compared to the coordinate origin, that is, the irradiation parameter. Each set of the irradiation parameters includes an irradiation point and an irradiation angle. In the embodiment disclosed in the present application, the irradiation parameters (X, Y, Z, φ) are determined with the center point of the collimator outlet 62 as the origin.

[0031] Reference Figure 3 As shown, the irradiation parameter verification device 5 includes an image acquisition unit 51 for acquiring image data of the patient S and the collimator 6, a storage unit 52 for storing the image data of the patient S and the collimator 6 obtained from the image acquisition unit 51, a conversion unit 53 for converting the image data of the patient S and the collimator 6 in the storage unit 52 into corresponding irradiation parameters, a calculation unit 54 for calculating the dose distribution of the radiation in the patient S during the positioning in combination with the irradiation parameters in the conversion unit 53, and a comparison unit 55 for comparing the dose distribution calculated by the calculation unit 54 with a preset dose distribution. The preset dose distribution is stored in the storage unit 52.

[0032] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 4As shown, the shape of the collimator 6 can be cylindrical, rectangular, conical, etc. according to actual needs. This application takes a conical collimator 6 as an example. The length of the collimator 6 used is 0 to 50 cm, the diameter of the entrance 61 is 0.5 to 30 cm, and the size of the entrance of the image acquisition unit 51 is less than 100 cm. In the process of acquiring image data of the patient S and the collimator 6, when the size of the collimator 6 is large, a complete collimator 6 cannot be transported to the interior of the image acquisition unit 51 together with the patient S for image acquisition. In the actual operation process, the conversion unit 53 only needs the image data of the relative position between the collimator outlet 62 and the patient S to obtain the position parameters of the tumor center of the patient S compared to the coordinate origin (the center point of the collimator outlet 62), that is, the irradiation parameters. Specifically, it is only necessary to provide the shape and size of the collimator outlet 62 and the image data of the relative position between the end surface of the collimator outlet 62 and the patient S to the conversion unit 53. Therefore, it is only necessary to manufacture a collimator model 8 that can actually present the shape and size of the collimator outlet 62 and transport it to the interior of the image acquisition unit 51 together with the patient S for angiography. The collimator model 8 includes a collimator model inlet 81 and a collimator model outlet 82. The direction perpendicular to the collimator outlet 62 and the collimator model outlet 82 is defined as the length direction. The collimator model outlet 82 has the same shape and size as the collimator outlet 62, but the length of the collimator model 8 is less than the length of the collimator 6.

[0033] In the present application, a collimator model 8 having the same shape and size as the end portion 65 of the collimator 6 is manufactured and transported together with the patient S to the interior of the image acquisition unit 51 for radiography. That is, in the direction parallel to the center line X of the collimator model 8, the size of the collimator model 8 is 1 mm-10 mm.

[0034] In other embodiments, a simulated collimator having the same shape and size as the collimator 6 can be manufactured, and the simulated collimator has the same definition as the inlet 61, the collimator outlet 62, the front end 64, and the terminal end 65 of the collimator 6. Then, the terminal end 65 of the simulated collimator is cut off as the collimator model 8 and placed together with the patient S in the working range of the image acquisition unit 51 for imaging. Specifically, in the direction parallel to the center line X of the simulated collimator, the size of the terminal end 65 is 1 mm-10 mm.

[0035] In other embodiments, a hollow cylinder having the same shape and size as the collimator outlet 62 can be manufactured as the collimator model 8 and placed together with the patient S within the working range of the image acquisition unit 51 for imaging. In the direction parallel to the center line X of the collimator model 8, the size of the collimator model 8 is 1 mm-10 mm.

[0036] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in order to adjust and fix the relative position between the patient S and the collimator model 8, the radiation therapy system further includes an adjustment mechanism 9 for adjusting and fixing the relative position between the patient S and the collimator model 8. Before transporting the patient S and the collimator model 8 to the working range of the image acquisition unit 51 for imaging, the doctor or physicist adjusts and fixes the collimator model 8 to a position that he or she considers more suitable through the adjustment mechanism 9 based on his or her own experience, at which position the tumor center of the patient S corresponds to a set of irradiation parameters. The structure of the adjustment mechanism 9 is not limited, as long as it can adjust and fix the relative position between the collimator model 8 and the patient S.

[0037] Before performing radiation irradiation therapy, it is necessary to determine whether the position of the patient S relative to the collimator model outlet 82 is suitable for radiation irradiation therapy through the irradiation parameter verification device 5. Before verification, the doctor or physicist places the patient S at the corresponding position on the mounting member 41 according to his or her own experience and fixes it, and then adjusts the position of the collimator model 8 relative to the patient S and locks the collimator model 8; the specific steps are as follows:

[0038] S3: the carrier 41 moves to the working area of ​​the image acquisition unit 51 to acquire image data of the patient S and the collimator model 8;

[0039] S4: the storage unit 52 stores the image data of the patient S and the collimator model 8 obtained from the image acquisition unit 51;

[0040] S5: the conversion unit 53 converts the image data of the patient S and the collimator model 8 in the storage unit 52 into irradiation parameters corresponding to the positioning;

[0041] S6: The calculation unit 54 combines other information, such as beam intensity, tumor size, etc., with the irradiation parameters to calculate the radiation dose distribution in the patient S when the patient S is in the position corresponding to the irradiation parameters;

[0042] S7: the comparison unit 55 compares the dose distribution calculated by the calculation unit 54 with the preset dose distribution;

[0043] S8: Adjust the relative position between the collimator model and the patient, and repeat S2-S7 until the difference between the dose distribution obtained from the calculation unit 54 and the preset dose distribution is within an acceptable range.

[0044] After obtaining the irradiation parameters with corresponding dose distribution within an acceptable range, the driving member 42 of the mounting device 4 drives the mounting member 41 to move to a position corresponding to the irradiation parameters for radiation irradiation.

[0045] In the embodiment disclosed in the present application, the image acquisition unit 51 is a CT scanner. In other embodiments, other devices may be selected to acquire images.

[0046] In the first embodiment, the inner cavity of the collimator model 8 is cylindrical, and one collimator model 8 corresponds to a collimator model outlet 82 with a unique shape and size. In the second and third embodiments, a plurality of collimator model outlets 82 of different sizes are marked on a collimator model 8', 8", so as to achieve the purpose of obtaining multiple sets of irradiation parameters in one imaging. Specifically, referring to Figure 5 As shown, in the second embodiment, a plurality of cylindrical cavities 82' with different diameters are machined inside the collimator model 8' in a direction parallel to the center of the collimator model 8', referring to Figure 6 As shown, in Example 3, a plurality of annular grooves 82" with different diameters are formed at intervals on the end face of the collimator model 8", wherein the center lines of a plurality of cylindrical cavities 82' coincide, and the center lines of a plurality of annular grooves 82" coincide. Each cylindrical cavity 82' and annular groove 82" of different diameters represents a collimator model outlet 82. The cylindrical cavity 82' and the annular groove 82" correspond to the circular collimator outlet 62. When the shape of the collimator outlet 62 is square or other shapes, the cylindrical cavity 82' and the annular groove 82" are correspondingly replaced with square cavities, square grooves, etc. Preferably, in the direction from the collimator model outlet 82 to the collimator model inlet 81, the diameter of the cylindrical cavity 82' machined inside the collimator model 8' gradually decreases.

[0047] The present application uses a collimator model outlet 82 which has the same shape and size as the collimator outlet 62 but is shorter than the length of the collimator 6 to transport the collimator model 8 together with the patient S to the interior of the image acquisition unit 51 for imaging, without the need to place a complete collimator 6 into the image acquisition unit 51, thereby reducing the requirements on the size of the working range of the image acquisition unit 51; in addition, a plurality of collimator model outlets 82 of different sizes are marked on a collimator model 8', 8", thereby achieving the purpose of obtaining multiple sets of irradiation parameters in one imaging, greatly reducing the cost of manufacturing the collimator model 8', 8" and the cost of imaging the collimator model 8', 8" and the patient S.

[0048] Neutron capture therapy has been increasingly used in recent years as an effective means of treating cancer, among which boron neutron capture therapy is the most common. Neutrons for boron neutron capture therapy can be supplied by a nuclear reactor or an accelerator. Preferably, the radiation is a neutron beam, the radiation generating device 1 is a neutron beam generating device, and the radiation therapy system is a neutron capture therapy system. More preferably, the neutron capture therapy system is a boron neutron capture therapy system, and further, the boron neutron capture therapy system is an accelerator boron neutron capture therapy system.

[0049] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention but not to limit the technical solutions described in the present invention. The understanding of this specification should be based on the technicians in the relevant technical field. Although this specification has described the present invention in detail with reference to the above embodiments, ordinary technicians in the field should understand that technicians in the relevant technical field can still modify or replace the present invention with equivalents, and all technical solutions and improvements that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A radiation therapy system for performing radiation therapy on a patient, characterized in that: The invention comprises a radiation generating device for generating therapeutic radiation, an irradiation room for placing a patient to be irradiated with radiation, a loading device for transporting and carrying the patient, a collimator arranged in the irradiation room, an irradiation parameter verification device and a collimator model, wherein the collimator comprises a collimator outlet for emitting radiation, the collimator model comprises a collimator model outlet, the collimator model outlet has the same shape and size as the collimator outlet, the position of the patient relative to the collimator model outlet is used to determine the dose distribution in the patient's body to be irradiated with radiation in the corresponding position, the irradiation parameter verification device comprises an image acquisition unit for acquiring image data of the patient and the collimator model, the size of the collimator model in a direction perpendicular to the collimator model outlet is smaller than the size of the collimator in a direction perpendicular to the collimator outlet.

2. The radiation therapy system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The irradiation parameter verification device also includes a storage unit for storing the image data of the patient and the collimator obtained from the image acquisition unit, a conversion unit for converting the image data of the patient and the collimator model in the storage unit into irradiation parameters, a calculation unit for calculating the dose distribution of the radiation in the patient's body at the time of corresponding positioning in combination with the irradiation parameters in the conversion unit, and a comparison unit for comparing the dose distribution calculated by the calculation unit with a preset dose distribution.

3. The radiation therapy system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The image acquisition unit includes a CT scanner.

4. The radiation therapy system according to claim 1, wherein: The size of the collimator model in a direction perpendicular to the collimator model outlet is 1-10 mm.

5. The radiation therapy system according to claim 1, wherein: One of the collimator models has a plurality of collimator model outlets of different sizes, and the shape and size of each of the collimator model outlets are the same as the shape and size of the collimator outlet of one of the collimators.

6. The radiation therapy system according to claim 5, characterized in that: A plurality of cavities of different sizes are processed inside the collimator model, and each cavity of different sizes represents an outlet of the collimator model.

7. The radiation therapy system according to claim 5, characterized in that: A plurality of grooves with different sizes are formed at intervals on the end surface where the collimator model outlet is located, and each groove with a different size represents a collimator model outlet.

8. The radiation therapy system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The invention also comprises an adjusting mechanism for adjusting and fixing the relative position between the patient and the collimator model.

9. The radiation therapy system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The radiation therapy system is a neutron capture therapy system.

10. A working method of the irradiation parameter verification device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The irradiation parameter verification device also includes a storage unit for storing the image data and a preset dose distribution, a conversion unit for converting the image data into irradiation parameters, a calculation unit for calculating the dose distribution of radiation in the patient's body when the irradiation parameters are combined, and a comparison unit for comparing the dose distribution calculated by the calculation unit with the preset dose distribution, which includes the following steps: S1: the carrying device moves to the working area of ​​the image acquisition unit to acquire image data of the patient and the collimator model; S2: the storage unit stores the image data of the patient and the collimator model obtained by the image acquisition unit; S3: the conversion unit converts the image data of the patient and the collimator model in the storage unit into the irradiation parameters; S4: the calculation unit calculates the radiation dose distribution in the patient's body when the patient is in a position corresponding to the irradiation parameter by combining the beam intensity, the tumor size and the irradiation parameter; S5: the comparison unit compares the dose distribution calculated by the calculation unit with a preset dose distribution; S6: adjusting the relative position of the collimator model and the patient, and repeating S1-S5 until the difference between the dose distribution obtained from the calculation unit and the preset dose distribution is within an acceptable range.

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